The word which we translate to oppress,1 signifies a double oppression. First, An oppression by our words. And secondly, An oppression by our actions, the oppression of the tongue, and the oppression of the hand. The tongue is a great tyrant, the tongue will lay on load, and draw blood. The Vulgar understands it of this tongue-oppression, Is it good for thee that thou shouldest calumniate or slander me? that is, Give others occasion to speak evil of me. That is a good sense. Slander and censure wound deep, hard words bruise the credit and break the heat, as well as hard blows, bruise the flesh, and break the bones. But ⟨p. 440⟩take it here rather for oppression by outward violence: So the word is often used (Psal. 119.122.) I have done judgement and justice, give me not •ver to mine oppressors, to those, who would wrong me, because I have done right. And it noteth, as an open or violent oppression, so a cunning, subtle oppression, a cheating, fraudulent oppression. All wrong, how close and cunning soever, is oppression. We have that sense of the word (Hos. 12.7.) He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand, he loveth to oppress. How doth a Merchant oppress? He comes not like a thief or a Nimrod with a sword in his hand, bidding you, Deliver your purse or your life, commanding you to give up your right, or your liberty; but while in buying and selling, in trading and dealing, he offers you a fair bargain, or as we say, a penny worth for your penny, he smites you secretly, and cuts your throat (as famine doth) without a knife: the balances of deceit are in his hand; Balances are put for all instruments, or means of trading, by these he deceives: light weights oppress the State, as a heavy weight presses the body. The word imports also oppression by with-holding what is due, as well as by taking away what we duly hold (Deut. 24.14.) Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy; that is, thou shalt not detain or keep back any part of his wages.
The word which we translate to oppresse,1 signifies a double oppression. First, An oppression by our words. And secondly, An oppression by our actions, the oppression of the tongue, and the oppression of the hand. The tongue is a great tyrant, the tongue will lay on load, and draw bloud. The Vulgar understands it of this tongue-oppression, Is it good for thee that thou shouldest calumniate or slander me? that is, Give others occasion to speak evil of me. That is a good sense. Slander and censure wound deep, hard words bruise the credit and break the heatt, as well as hard blows, bruise the flesh, and break the bones. But ⟨p. 440⟩take it here rather for oppression by outward violence: So the word is often used (Psal. 119.122.) I have done judgement and justice, give me not •ver to mine oppressours, to those, who would wrong me, because I have done right. And it noteth, as an open or violent oppression, so a cunning, subtil oppression, a cheating, fraudulent oppression. All wrong, how close and cunning soever, is oppression. We have that sense of the word (Hos. 12.7.) He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand, he loveth to oppresse. How doth a Merchant oppresse? He comes not like a thief or a Nimrod with a sword in his hand, bidding you, Deliver your purse or your life, commanding you to give up your right, or your liberty; but while in buying and selling, in trading and dealing, he offers you a fair bargain, or as we say, a penny worth for your penny, he smites you secretly, and cuts your throat (as famine doth) without a knife: the balances of deceit are in his hand; Balances are put for all instruments, or means of trading, by these he deceives: light weights oppresse the State, as a heavy weight presses the body. The word imports also oppression by with-holding what is due, as well as by taking away what we duly hold (Deut. 24.14.) Thou shalt not oppresse an hired servant that is poor and needy; that is, thou shalt not detain or keep back any part of his wages.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew] Significat opprimere aliquē verbu aut factis. Numquid lo•ū tibi videtur, si calumnieris me. Vulg.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Significat opprimere aliquē verbu aut factis. Numquid lo•ū tibi videtur, si calumnieris me. Vulg.
